Drawbar yoke



Apr. 3, 1923' 1,450,167

F. H. BENDER DRAWBAR YOKE Filed Aug. 8, 3921 Patented pr. 3, 1923.

UTE r FREDERIC H. BENDER, CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO AMERICAN STEEL FOUNDRIES, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF NEW `JERSEY.

DRAWIBAR YOKE.

Application ledaugust 8, 1921. Serial No. 490,493.-

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I,FREDER1C H. BENDER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Drawbar Yokes, of which the following'is'aspeiication This invention relates to a new and improved draw bar yoke, and more particularly to a bearing construction for vertical yoke keys.

In connection with certain types of yokes a vertical key is provided to connect the yoke to the butt end of the coupler shank. In general, such keys have heads on their lower end instead of on the top so that the coupler can be disconnected from the yoke and the draft gear without the necessity for taking down the yoke and draft gear. This vertical key with its bottom head has been held in place by means of a horizontal bolt, Cotter pin or similar device. In some types of these yokes, however, for `use with certain forms of draft gear, it is necessary that the yoke remain stationary in the buiiing action, the coupler moving rearwardly with relation to the yoke. To permit this movement it is necessary that the vertical key have a limited movement relative to the 3o yoke since the key is to move with the coupler shank. If the head of such a moving key be supported upon a round bolt or similar supporting device, it will in use seriously wear the bolt, which may in time give way and permit the coupler tobecome detached from the yoke with possibly serious consequences. F urther; a key having such play in the yoke permits angling of the coupler shank relative to the yoke as covered in the patent to R. E. L. Janney, No. 1,365,497. of January 11, 1921. In such constructions were tlm. key support immovably secured t/ the yoke, there would be a certain amount of binding or wearing thrust between the key and its support during such angling movement of the coupler. In order to prevent such wear it is desirable to pro' vide a support which adapts itself to an# gling movements of the key caused by the coupling. y

It is an object of the present invention to provide supporting means for such vertical keys adapted to present to the head of the key an extended bearing surface and 5 thus to vminimize wear upon such support.

It is a further object to provide a device of this character which will at all times, regardless of the position of the key, offer an adequate bearing support. It is a further object to provide a device which is simple in construction, easy of application and adapted for commercial use. Other and further objects will appear as the description proceeds. v

. Broadly, my invention comprises the application to a draw bar yoke, at a point below the head of the vertical-key, of an extended bearing for the head of such key. This bearing in its referred form is a small casting removab y supported by means of a transverse bolt or pin. The casting is provided with a face of such length as to cover the greater portion of the base of the key, regardless of the position of the key. The casting may rotate about its supporting bolt to accommodate itself to angling movements of the key.

I have illustrated a preferred embodimentof my invention in theaccompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a plan view of the draw bar yoke with the key in place in its forward position.

Figure 2 is a side view of the device 'of' Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a View from below of the device of Figure l and.

Figure 4 is a section taken' on the line 4-4 of Figure 2.v 'l

The design of the' draw bar yoke 5 forms no part of the present invention. This yoke is provided with the elongate slots 6 and 7 in its upper and lower arms respectively. The vertical key 8 fits in these slots and is, as shown, similar in cross-section to the shape of the slots, but of materially smaller longitudinal dimension so that it has limited play in the slots. The lowei` end of the key 8.is provided with a head9 which extends below the lower face of the draw bar yoke.

Extending from' the lower face of the draw bar yoke at eitherv side of the slot 7 are the lugs l0. These lugs carry the horizontally extending boltll which passes below the head 9 of the key. The bolt 11 is i to contact With the lower face of the head 9 of the key 8. The draw bar and draft gear have not been shown since they .are not necessary to an understanding of the present invention.

To remove the key 8 and thus disconnect the draw bar from the yoke, the bolt l1 is removed from the lugs l0 and the bearing member 14 is then dropped down 'to permit withdrawal of the key. The key is replaced in the reverse manner, the key lirst being thrust upwardly through the yoke and through the draw bar shank, which latter is inserted between the upper and lower arms of the yoke. The bearing member 14 is then held in place between the lugs l0 and the bolt ll is passed through the bearing member and secured by means of its nut and cotte-r pin.

It Will be observed that the bearing face l5 upon the bearing casting 14 is of such length that the greater part of its surface is in engagement with the head of the key even when the key is' at either of its extreme positions. The rear or innermost edge of the key never passes beyond the center of the bearing surface and hence there is nopossibility of the casting 14; rotating about its supporting bolt, except as it may be rotated by angling movements of the key due to similar movements of the coupler.

My construction is composed of but few parts and can be readily and quickly applied and removed, thus permitting disengagement of the coupler from the yoke without the necessity for taking down the draft gear. The device may be readily manufactured at small cost and presents an adequate bearing surface so that replacement will not often be required.

t is my intention to cover all modilications coming Within the spirit and scope of the following claims:

lfVhat l claim is:

l. ln combination With a draw bar yoke,

' a vertically extending key adapted to consuch position that the latter may support the key.

2. In combination With a draw bar yoke, a vertically extending key adapted to connect the yoke to a coupler, said key having a limited horizontal movement relative to the yoke, lugs extending from the yoke adjacent the lower end of the key, a pin removably carried by said lugs, the pin extending below the key, and a bea-ring member carried by the pin and engaging the lower face of the key.

3. ln combination with a draw bar yoke, a. vertically extending key adapted to conneet the yoke to a coupler, said key having a limited horizontal movement relative to the yoke, lugs extending from the yoke adjacent the lower end of the key, a pin removably carried by said lugs, the pin extending below the key, and a bearing member carried by the pin and engaging the lower face of the key, said bearing member having an extended flat bearing surface whereby it engages the greater part of the lower face of the key in any position of the key.

Ll. ln combination with a draw bar yoke, a vertically extending key adapted to connect the yoke to a'coupler, said key being adapted to have a limited tilting movement relativel to the yoke, and a support for said key adapted to tilt with the key.

5. In combination with a draw bar yoke, a vertically extending key adapted to connect the yoke to a. coupler, said key being adapted to have a limited tilting movement relative to the yoke, and a tiltable support for said key, thesupport having an extended bearing face and maintaining said face in contact with Athe key in any position thereof.

6. ln, combination with a draw bar yoke, a vertically extending key adapted to conneet the yoke to a coupler, said key being adapted to have a limited tilting movement relative to the yoke, and a. supporting member for said key carried by a member extending transversely ofthe key, and being tiltable about said member whereby the supporting member maintains its extended bearing surface in engagement with the key when the latter is tilted.

Signed at Chicago, Illinois, this 30th day of July, 1921.

FREDERIC H. BENDER. 

